Top Ten Punk Albums
 

Although I'm sure that this thread exists somewhere in the far-reaching corridors of the MB archives, and at the risk of having one of the MB heads do away with my submission altogether, I will persist. I've been engaged in a heated discussion with a few of my co-workers as to the greatest, most authoritative list of Punk albums, with the inclusion of no more and no less than ten.
Here's mine as of today, in no particular oder:

1. "Damage"-Black Flag; 2. "Milo Goes to College"-The Descendents; 3. "Bad Brains"-Bad Brains; 4. "Suffer"-Bad Religion; 5. "Bedtime for Democracy"- Dead Kennedys; 6. "Out of Step"-Minor Threat; 7. "How Could Hell be any Worse"-Bad Religion; 8. "Everything Falls Apart"-Husker Du; 9. "Group Sex"-Circle Jerks; and 10. "Raw Power"-Iggy and the Stooges (though, I'm sure that some would dispute it's inclusion).

Weigh in....

1.London Calling-The Clash
2.New Day Rising-Husker Du
3.Pink Flag-Wire
4.The Clash=S/T
5.Another Music In A Different Kitchen-Buzz****s
6.Raw Power-The Stooges
7.Dead Fruit For Rotting Vegetables-Dead Kennedys
8.Repeater-Fugazi
9.The Scream-Siouxsie And The Banshees
10.New York Dolls-S/T

I wouldn't consider London Calling a punk album.

That's an odd thing to say about one of the defining punk albums.

Its definitely a punk album. I would have tossed in Bad Brains self titled, The Adolescents self titled, Black Flag- Damaged, The Distillers Self titled, The Nekromantix- Nice Day for a Resurrection, The Offspring- Ignition, Rancid- Let's Go, Social Distortion- self titled, Big D and the Kids Table- How it Goes, any work with GG Allin. Something along those lines.

There's so much more to London Calling than just punk, though.

Yeah, but it was still a seminal punk album. For me, I kind of consider it to be in the same league as albums like "Nevermind the Bollocks" by the Sex Pistols. Stylistically, it's more akin to classic rock than what is generally percieved as punk. But it's edgier, more irreverant, and the content is more inclined toward political and social issues than the vast majority of what rock groups were producing at the time. And though I would lump "Nevermind the Bollocks" and "London Calling" into the same broad category, seeing that both albums really pushed punk music into more exciting places, I would not, however, put any of the members of the Pistols in the same category as Joe Strummer. He was simply a much more consumate artist than any single member of the Pistols.


Btw--Rnrloser, I was going to include that very same Adolescents album, but ran out of slots. I didn't want to keep revising and retooling my list, though. That's a great pick...

I don't listen to enough punk to have the knowledge to put a complete list together, but I want Double Nickels on the Dime to be mentioned at least once in here somewhere...

/\/\/\/\/\
 

Great suggestion...Damn, I wish I would have included the Minutemen now.

I don't listen to much punk but here's my list (in no order)

Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material

I still remember buying this CD when I was 16, same day I got my drivers license. Drove over to the Tower Records, bought it, and drove around town listening to it. There's just something really enticing about the album, the ferocity of the song without seeming too abrasive. They found a very good niche that a lot of bands seem to go too far over or not far enough. My dad was a big fan of these guys back in the '80's and he is the main reason why I wanted to listen to them. I don't have many CD's left in my collection, but I have not brought it upon myself to sell this one yet.

Green Day - Insomniac

I'm sure this may come as a surprise to people who know my music tastes but I really like this album. I found it to be a really good blend of pop and punk that didn't seem watered down. Dookie had the most amount of singles, but I feel that Insomniac has the best written songs. "Brat", "Geek Stink Breath", "Stuart and the Ave.", "Brainstew", "Tight Wad Hill", and "Walking Contradiction" are all really amazing songs, yet only two of those made it as singles. Dookie started off really song, but I found seemed to fizzle out towards the last three or four tracks, but this one really stays solid from start to finish. A lot of people like to hate on Green Day, but you cannot deny their effect on modern punk bands, for better or for worse.

Punky Bruster - Cooked on Phonics

This is one of Devin Townsend's most underrated albums. A satirical look at the commercialization of punk as well as metal. The album also shows the differences between punks and metal heads, some of the rivalry and disgust both groups feel for each other, despite being very close music wise. The album tells the story a death metal band who decides to turn punk in order to sell more records. Narrated by someone who sounds a lot like Murderface from Metalacalypse, he tells the rise and problems that the members of Punky Bruster face because of their metal roots. Some truly hilarious skits and memorable songs, if you haven't heard this album before it's something you really need to get.

Choking Victim - No Gods / No Managers

I really love these guys. Their ability to mix punk, ska, and pop together in something that doesn't feel overly processed was by far the best. Songs like "500 Channels", "Crack Rock Steady", "Fuck America", and "Five Finger Discount" really helped breath life into this only album. While most of the members went on to form Leftover Crack, I prefer No Gods / No Managers to anything LC has put out.

The Clash - The Clash

Really hard to choose between their self-titled album and London Calling but in the end I had to go with their self-titled one. The deciding factor was the song "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" which I still hold as one of the most intelligent punk songs ever written. Not only that but with songs like "Janie Jones", "London's Burning", "White Riot", "Complete Control", "Clash City Rockers", "I'm So Bored with the USA", and "I Fought the Law" the album is one solid hit after another.

Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb

One of the most fun albums I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. Every song gets my foot tapping and I'm sure I've put dents in my steering wheel from smacking it while listening to this album. While I'm always going to like Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution more, the songs they redid still contain the same level of fun that their acoustic counterparts did.

Darkest of the Hillside Thickets - Shadow Out of Tim

My old bosses band who are an H.P. Lovecraft inspired punk rock band from Vancouver. Their lyrics often contain tongue-in-cheek references to quintessential horror author H.P. Lovecraft, specifically the Cthulhu mythos. They put on a great live show, often dressing in elaborate costumes, creating a fun atmosphere and proving once and for all that nerds can be punks too.

Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation

I've liked this album ever since I read Please Kill Me: The Oral History of Punk. The album's production was pretty rough, however songs like "Love Comes In Spurts", "Blank Generation", "New Pleasure", and "Betrayal Takes Two" have earned their status for me.

Social Distortion - Social Distortion

Sure this album sounds a lot more polished and commercialized than their 1983 release Mommy's Little Monster but I really don't care too much because the album just rocks so fucking much. This album really showcases Mike Ness' country influence and story telling ability, albeit simple ones, are a lot more interesting to me than song after song about social problems.

Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm a Machine

One of the few albums I bought to impress someone. There was a girl I went to high school with who was one of those insanely hot punk girls that listened to actual punk music and not just what was popular at the time. She had a pin of these guys and I was intrigued and wanted to get in her pants so I decided to buy this album to impress her with my insane knowledge of punk music. I knew absolutely nothing about these guys but was quite impressed with the fact that it was just a bass and drum kit. Some really trippy songs with the same ferocity as punk, but the fuzz of stoner metal that I learned to love a few months earlier. It's a shame these guys broke up a short while after, but they did leave quite an amazing album behind.

your list is really interesting, and refreshingly different than what i'd expect from lists in a thread like this. most importantly, i wanted to quote this, because it's so friggin' true. White Man in Hammersmith Palais got a lot of blowjobs from the press for being the best Clash song ever (after the fact, of course), but for once, the press was right. this song blows my mind every time i hear it.

edit: not to mention, there's albums that i haven't checked out on this list, but definitely will.

if you haven't already heard it, have a listen to RATTUS NORVEGICUS by the stranglers, trust me folks you'll love it, easily their best ever album. ugly remains my favourite song ever apart from the doors roadhouse blues

^ "Black and White" is pretty good, too.

Sex Pistols - Bollocks
The Clash - S/T
Husker Du - Zen Arcade
X - Los Angeles
Meat Puppets I
Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation
Johnny Thunders - So Alone
The Replacements - Sorry Ma, I Forgot to Take Out the Trash
The Saints - I'm Stranded
The Stranglers - Rattus...

The Clash - Give Em Enough Rope
Black Flag - The First Four Years
Crass - Stations of the Crass
Television - Marquee Moon
Poison Girls - Hex
X - Under the Big Black Sun
The Slits - Cut
The Germs - GI
The Adverts - Crossing the Red Sea

blanking on the tenth

1. The Germs - (GI)
Popularly known as one of the first hardcore punk albums. Gotta love the DIY work ethic that defines punk.
2. Minor Threat - Discography
How Minor Threat toured with no roadie and had $2 shows I don't know. Although being Straight Edge may be looked down upon nowadays you have to give them credit for creating such a big following.
3.Descendents - Liveage!
Really embodies what punk stands for in the sense of live shows.
4. Black Flag - Damaged
5. Circle Jerks - Group Sex
Album that really got me into punk.
6.Operation Ivy - Energy
I see Jesse Michaels as a Punk legend, Operation Ivy was all about unity and were dedicated to there messages.
7.Angry Samoans - Back From Samoa
8.Bad Brains -S/T
9.Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers

I really can't think right now and there's a lot of holes in my tiny explainations, I'll get back to this later.

this post will be more punk if I just blurt out 10 great punk albums in no order so..

-Group Sex by Circle Jerks
-Rock for Light by Bad Brains
-Split LP by Faith/Void
-Discography of Minor Threat
-Suicidal Tendencies s/t
-Ramones s/t
-Walk Among Us by Misfits
-Inzombia by Slant 6
-Food for Thought by Gray Matter
and
-Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen

1) The Clash-London Calling
2) Afi - Black Sails in the Sunset
3) Dead Kennedys- Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
4) Sex Pistols- Nevermind the Bollocks
5) Operations Ivy- Operations Ivy
6) The Clash- The Clash
7) Ramones- Ramones
8) Green Day - Dookie
9) Pennywise-Full Circle
10) Offspring- Smash

Nothing refreshing

I will be "refreshed' when people recognise Sandinista! as what it is. Which is genius.

London Calling is great, I mean you can listen end to end, but Sandinista! is just....

punk o rama 6
punk o rama 7

hahaha. I'm not being an elitist *******, I promise. Those compilations are great launching points to get more familiar with punk and some of the great current punk groups, but I don't know if they qualify in the "album" category.

mine...
 

And Out Come the Wolves - Rancid
Inflammable Material - SLF
London Calling - Clash
Nevermind the Bullocks - Pistols
Dookie -GD
Singles Going Steady - Buzz****s
Insomniac - GD
In Love With The System - Forgotten Rebels
Stranger than Fiction - BR
Goldfinger - Goldfinger
The Distillers - The Distillers

no kidding.

Television - Marquee Moon
The Clash - Clash
Gang Of Four - Entertainment
Wire - Pink Flag
The Clash - London Calling
The Replacements - Let It Be
Buzz****s - Singles Going Steady
The Jam - All Mod Cons
New York Dolls - New York Dolls
The Adverts - Crossing the Red Sea

Descendents - Liveage!
Blew me away the first time I head it. Just so catchy, humorous and fast fast fast.
Minor Threat - Discography
Dead Kennedy's - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come
Surprised this wasn't mentioned (unless I missed it). Everything about this album is perfect.
Ramones - Mania
Sure it's a compilation album but it's one of the major things that go me into punk and music in general. I'm sure I killed my dad making him listen to it over and over on the trip I bought it on.
Black Flag - Live '84
I was just as likely to say Damaged but this really got me into the totally different side of the band. It's raw, exposed, amazing instrumentation, tight grooves, and puts a new face on some older material.
Minutemen - Ballot Result
Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers
Dead Milkmen - Big Lizard in My Backyard
So many good memories with this album. Great humor, topics, and bass playing.
For a tenth I kind of torn between Germs - GI, NOFX - 45 or 46 songs, and Misfits - Static Age or Famous Monsters.

WORD.

Anyways, I don't think I could possibly make a top 10 punk albums list, because I don't think I could ever iron out a criteria.

i dont know about top 10.. but a few of my fav:

NOFX - Ribbed
Pennywise - Full Circle
Sex Pistols - Nevermind the Bollocks
Green Day - Dookie

The Stooges - Raw Power
The Clash - London Calling
X - Los Angeles
Radio Birdman - Radios Appear
The Saints - (I'm) Stranded
Dead Kennedy's - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
The Misfits - Static Age
Ramones - Ramones
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
Black Flag - Damaged

... and out come the wolves- Rancid
Do or Die- Dropkick Murphys
Suburban Rebels- The Business
Love Thy Neighbor- Discipline
London Calling- The Clash
Let's Go- Rancid
Discography- Minor Threat
I Heard They Sucked Live- Nofx
Smash- The Offspring

Thats only 9 and I know its a more or less list of modern punk rock with a couple of exceptions. Maybe not the best but my favorite

Apart from a few usual suspects (The Clash, Pistols), there are very few U.K albums on these lists :(

I will have to rectify that with a list of my own. Unfortunately it stands at a top 15 ATM so it obviously needs trimming before I can post a top 10.

I had Inflammable Material on mine, so I'm awesome right?

Not bad ;) although SLF are not one of my faves I liked that you gave a write up on your choices and why. If only more lists had a similar approach.

ahem

I did say very few! Kudos on the Slits :) but most lists have few U.K bands which is surprising. I think a lot of U.K Punk never made much headway in the states so it's understandable.

As for Crass I still think Feeding of the 5,000 takes some beating. You ever heard A Flux Of Pink Indians Paloma? I'm sure you would like them.

Of course. I love Flux of Pink Indians. Out of the Crass Records bands I preferred Poison Girls, tbf. I like UK punk the best also, a lot of the american stuff can't compare. If I made a list of like... my 100 favorite punk bands they'd be mostly ones from the UK. As for Crass, Stations of the Crass takes the cake for me

A woman after my own heart :) Now if you say that Discharge, Conflict and G.B.H are faves too then I'm hopping on a plane ;)

I loooooooooooooooooooooove Discharge, Conflict and GBH not so much. When I got into Discharge I got into all the Oi/associated bands like Abrasive Wheels and **** Sparrer

I never really got into oi bands. The sound became tiresome pretty quickly and lacked the original purpose of Punk for me personally. I do like The 4 Skins though.

Why not GBH? Them and the Exploited and Subhumans are the UK punk bands I got into the most (like a lot of Americans I guess). I would probably also like Discharge if I took the time but I only need so much of this stuff in my life..

4 Skins are definitely great. Oi bands are worth checking out, nothing deep really but fun all the same

GBH...I'm just picky. Same for the Exploited. I liked them a little bit, but ehhh. Nothing too special to me. Subhumans....They're a bit more anarcho, aren't they? I was/am always more into anarcho and peace punk more than anything (besides post punk obviously)

The Exploited have always had a mixed reception in the U.K due to some very poor track choices but Troops Of Tomorrow (another classic '82 release for the U.K) is top notch. Checkout Broken Bones if you haven't already Paloma.